Knob-latch.



PATENTED MAR. 6, 1906.

5. CHRISTENSEN. KNOB LATCH.

APPLIOMION rnmn JAH. 11, 1904.

b @nde/wem, 1MM- JESSE CHRISTENSEN,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF CLARINDA, IWA.

KNOB-LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 6, 1906.

Application filed January 11,1904. Serial No. 188,558.

To all whom it may concern:

Bc it known that I, JEssn CHRIsTENsEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clarinda, in the county of Page and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Knob-Latch, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in builders hardware of the class known as "knob-latches, and has for its obj ect to simplify and improve the construction and produce a device of this character which may be applied to doors of different thicknesses without changing the structure or adjustments of any of the parts.

The invention further consists in the pro duction of a device of this character wherein lost motion is eliminated and wherein, in event of the wearin of the parts, they will bc automatically 4ta en up and lost motion frdm that cause obvieted.

The invention further consists in the novel construction of the latch-bolt, whereby lateral strains are obviated and the ease of action and consequent durability of the structure increased.

Nith these and other objects in view, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter shown and described, and specified in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, there is illustrated the preierred form and several modified forms of the embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, as modiiications may be made therein without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of its advanta es, and the right is therefore reserved of ma ing all the changes which may fallwithin the scope of the invention and oi' the claims made therefor.

In the drawings thus employed, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation, and Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, ci' the device applied to a door. v Fig. 3 is a view in section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate modifications in the construction. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the spindle employed in the modied construction shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a modified form of the escutcheon buildin?,-

bolt. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, illustrating the form of spindle employed when the knobs on opposite sides of the door operate independently. F ig. 9 is a detail perspective view of' the spindle arranged for inde endently-operable knobs.

he improved device herein illustrated is designed more particularly for use in a mortise in the edge of the door, and for the purpose of illustration is shown thus applied and consists of a casing inserted into the swinging edge of a door 10 and with a face-plate 11 oi the usual construction embedded in the door and secured by screws or other fastening means. The casing is composed of two cheek-plates 12 13, spaced apart and held in their spaced position by spreader members 14 15 at the rear or inner ends and by offsets 16 on the inner lace oi the face-plate 11 to limit the inward movement, and further conu nected by a binding-screw to prevent separa tion. I The latch-bolt consists of the outer or for- `ward portion 18, having the usual inclined terminal for enga ement with the striker on the door-j amb an branching rear portion 19 i 2G, connected by an intermediate transverse bar 21, this construction providingA a relaitively large aperture intermediately of the bolt. The rear portions of the side members 19 20 of the bolt rest between the s acer t members 14 15, separating the cheek-p ates, which thus form guides to the rear end of the bolt and prevent vertical movement thereof. The spacer members will be so located relative to the bolt that when the latter is in its projected position the rear ends of the side members of the bolt will be flush with the rear faces of the spacer members, while stoplugs 22 23, extending from the outer faces of the side members, will be so located relative to the spacer members that they will engage the latter when the bolt is in its withdrawn position. A spring 26 is connected between the bolt and one oi3 the cheek-plates 12 or 13 to yieldingly hold the bolt normally in its projected position. The spring 26 will preierably be connected by a clamp-screw 27 to one of the stop-lugs 22 23, and by providing cach of the stop-lugs with a threaded aperture for the clamp-screw the device can be quickl transformed into a reversible knoblatch y merely releasing the clamp-screw, reversing the bolt, and connecting the clampscrew to the stop-lug. The transverse bar 21 is formed with its central portion 28 curved IOG IIO

rearwardly, and the cheek-plates 12 13 arc formed with elongated apertures 29 3() opposite this curved portion of the bolt, the door 10 being likewise provided with apertures in alinement with the cheek-plate apertures. The curved portion of' the bolt and the alined elongated apertures in the several parts provide for the reception of the knob-spindle 33 and its movement longitudinally of the cheekplates when required, as hereinafter described. The spindle 33 is provided with oppositely-extending camlu s 34 35, preferably integral with the spin le and positioned at one side of the saine. The ends of the cam-lugs enga e the transverse bar 21 adjacent to the si e members 19 20 of the bolt, and when the spindle is oscillated in either direction it will be obvious that the cam-lugs will throw the bolt. The sides of the eamlugs just fill the space between the cheekplates 11 12, so that they serve as stops to prevent longitudinal movement to the spindle, while permitting free oscillatory Inovement thereto. The bolt will be maintained in constant yieldable engagement with the cam-lugs 34 35 by spring 26, so that lost inotion will not occur between the parts no matter how much wear may take place, as hereinafter more fully explained. A stop-pin 24 is disposed upon the plate 12 in position to be engaged by one of the stop-lugs on the bolt to rivent abnormal forward movement to the o t.

The elongated aperture 3() in the detachable cheek-plate 13 is provided with lateral extensions 25, and the aperture in the adj acent portion of the door 10 will be provided with correspondin f extensions 36 to rovide for the insertion o the cam-lugs on t e s indle. To insert the spindle, the latch-bo t is pushed in to its withdrawn position by pressure u on the end 18, which will move the curve portion 28 of the transverse bar 21 to a position in alinement with the rear ends of the elongated apertures, which will relieve the apertures from all obstructions and per mit the insertion of the spindle and its at tached cam-lugs. Then when the bolt is released the spring 26 will draw the bolt and s indle forward, with the latter positioned in tie forward ends of the elongated a ertures. Then when the escutcheons are app ied they will form bearings for the spindle to retain it rotatively in proper position. The escutch eons 37 38 are preferably elon ated and provided with relatively elongate sleeves 39 40, concentric to the spindle and s aced therefrom. The knobs 41 42 are ormed with relatively elongated shanks 43 44 for engaging the sleeves 39 40 and are attached to the spindle, as by clamp-screws 45 46. One of t e escutcheon-plates is provided with one or more relatively elongated bosses or studs 47, internally threaded and adapted to receive the threaded ends of clainp-bolts 48, extending through the other escutcheiiii-plate and also through the door 10, above and below the lock-casing, and by which means the escuteheon-plates are firmly united. By this simple arrangement the spindle is mainz tained in position independently of the escutcheon-plates, except that tlie latter form bearings therefor, so that the saine size oi" lock can be applied to doors of ditl'erent thicknesses, as the elongated sleeves 39 4() permit the elongated slianks 43 44 to freely slide therein as the escutclieon-plates are attached to thicker or thinner doors, as the case may be. Furthermore, the tastenings 43 maintain the sockets 39 of the escutcheonplates iii absolute alinement, thereby to prevent binding of the spindle and the knobs upon the escutcheon-i'ilates and their sockets. The cam-lugs 34 35 thus serve as effectual stops to prevent longitudinal movement of the spindle, while leaving it free to be oscillated, as will be obvious. The spindle and knobs will thus retain the same relative position no matter what the thickness of the door or the position of the escutclieon-plates may be. This is an important feature of the invention and adds materially toits value and efficiency by dispensing with the troublesome and anno Ting adjustment of the knobs upon the spind 1. In the improved structure one threaded aperture only is required in the spindle, as the knobs are never adjusted upon the spindles as in ordinary lock structures. By this arrangement also it will be obvious that no lost motion occurs longitudinally of the spindle, as the cam-lugs operating between the cheek-plates prevents it.

As before noted, the spring 26, holding the bolt normally in its projected position, maintains the transverse bar 21 in constant engagement with the cam-lugs when the spindle 1s at rest. Hence lost motion can never occur between these parts, and in event of wear or change of shape from other causes the spring will automatically take up the space otherwise caused thereby and keep the parts closely engaged and electually prevent rattling or looseness.

By this arrangement it will be noted that a very simple, cheaply-constructed, and ecient device is produced which can be readily applied to any thickness within the range of the sleeves 39 40 and threaded studs 47.

The escutcheon-plates and knobs may be of any desired form or fanciful design and ornamented in any desired manner.

The cheek-plates and spindle will preferably be of steel and the bolt and exposed portions of brass, bronze, or other metal usually employed for corresponding portions of locks of ordinary construction.

The parts may be of any desired size to adapt it to any size of door or to doors eind ployed for any required purpose.

In Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7 various slight modi- IOO ications in the structure are shown, which may be employed, if required. In Fig. 4 the belt is shown with a rearward extension 5i, operating between the spacer members 14 15, whose location is changed to correspond therewith. In Fig. 5 the side members 19 of the bolt are shown placed nearer toether and with the spacer members 14 15 disposed between the aperture in the bolt and the face-plate 11 and with the ends of the transverse bar 21 extended to receive oiset ends 49 5() on the cam-lugs 34 35, as in Fig. 6. In Fig. 7 a modification in the manner of constructing the tie-bolts 48 is shown, consistin in substituting for the boss or stud 47, attac ed to one of the eseuteheons, an elongated nut 52 for insertion through one of the escutcheon-plates and provided with an enlarged head to support it in place. In Fig. 8 the cam-lugs 34 35 are shown separate from the spindle and connected thereto, as by a clamp screw or rivet, which construction may be empio Ted under some circumstances, if required. In Fig. 9 is shown the form of the spindle employed in outside doors where the knobs operate independently, the spindle bein in two arts with a center pin 53 for guiding the a jacent inner ends and with the member 34 35 divided longitudinally, so that each part will aot independently n` on the cross-bar 21; but these various mod' 'mations will not constitute a departure from the principle of the invention, as the same results are produced in all and in substantially the same manner.

Havin thus described the inventiomwhat is claime is* In a lock, the combination with a casing, of a slidable bolt having a beveled head and provided with lateral stop-shoulders at opposite sides thereof, each stop-shoulder being provided with a threaded opening, a screw removably carried in the threaded opening of one of the shoulders and capable of cngagement with either of the threaded open- 1n s, guides carried by the casing at opposite si es of the bolt and in the paths of the shoulders to limit endwise lay of the bolt, and a spring connected to t e casing and detacha ly enga ed with the screw to yieldably maintain t e bolt at its forward limit.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto alixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JESSE CHRIST'ENSEN.

Witnesses:

WALTER I/V. HILL, C. A. WENsTRANn. 

